US3063686A

US3063686A - Smoke purifier

Info

Publication number: US3063686A
Application number: US70637A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ward M Irvin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-11-21
Filing date: 1960-11-21
Publication date: 1962-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 1979-11-13

Description

Nov. 13, 1962 W. M. IRVIN SMOKE PURIFIER Filed Nov. 21, 1960 INVENTOR BY QEPM ATTORNEY United States This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in attachments for furnaces, and more particularly to a novel smoke purifier particularly suitable for use in purifying smoke from furnaces.

The present invention is directed to the general problem of removing soot and fly ash in smoke from coal furnaces, and reducing the amounts of S S0 and CO in the smoke from coal, gas and oil furnaces to render the smoke from these furnaces less objectionable. Through removal of the soot, fly ash, and the aforementioned gases, contamination of the air and resultant smog is greatly reduced. While this problem has been long recognized, and many solutions proposed, the latter have had many shortcomings such as being relatively inefficient, complex, costly to construct, or costly to operate. it was a recognition of this situation which led to the conception and development of the present invention.

Accordingly among the objects of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus for purifying furnace smoke through the use of a special form of washing apparatus, and a primary object of this invention is to provide a novel bath arrangement to assure a maximum amount of scrubbing action on smoke passing through the bath.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel washing apparatus for purifying smoke, the washing apparatus including a water bath through which the smoke is first passed, and a Water curtain through which the smoke is further passed to assure a maximum smoke purification.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel smoke purifying apparatus which includes a water bath, means for directing smoke into the water bath beneath the Water level of same, and a deflector for preventing the direct upward flow of smoke through the water bath and at the same time effecting a reversal of flow of smoke through the water bath to bring about a maximum trapping of solids carried by the smoke with resultant maximum purification of the smoke before same is delivered into the atmosphere.

A further object of the invention is to provide smoke conveying means for forcibly moving smoke through a smoke purifier, the smoke conveying means in one form including a jet type pump wherein air is directed under pressure into a venturi in a smoke pipe to precool and force the smoke through the smoke pipe without the hot and harmful smoke first passing through a fan or like smoke pumping apparatus.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such means illustrating, however, but several of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a furnace and chimney arrangement wherein a smoke purifier is incorporated in the smoke pipe leading from the furnace to the chimney with the smoke purifier being diagrammatically shown in section and the details thereof spread apart and generally illustrated.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view similar to FIGURE 1 atent the surface of the wash water in the latter.

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and incorporating a modified means for forcing smoke through the smoke purifier.

Reference is now made to the drawing wherein two smoke purifying systems in accordance with the present invention are illustrated. The smoke purifying system of FIGURE 1 is used in conjunction with a furnace 3, and located between the furnace 3 and a chimney 4. A smoke pipe 5 extends from the furnace 3 to a fan or blower 6. The blower 6 is mounted on a pedestal or base 7 and is driven by any suitable power unit with the one illustrated being in the form of an electric motor 8 also seated on base 7. Drive shaft 9 couples the blower 6 to the armature shaft 10 of the electric motor 8 by a conventional coupling 11.

A smoke supply pipe 12. extends from the outlet of the blower 6 to the smoke purifier, which is generally referred to by the numeral 13. The smoke purifier 13 includes a closed casing 14 which may be seated on a suitable base or supported by legs 15, as is shown in FIGURE 1. The smoke delivery pipe 16 is an extension of smoke supply pipe 12 and extends into casing 14 with its outlet below The thus water purified smoke then passes from the casing 14 through outlet 19 which delivers same to chimney 4.

A constant water level is maintained within the casing 14 to provide a water bath 17. To accomplish this, water is constantly delivered to the casing 14 and the level of the water is maintained within the casing 14 by an overflow pipe 18 which is connected in any suitable manner (not shown) to a waste water receiver.

The smoke is delivered through supply pipe 12 into the casing 14 and released below the surface of the water bath 17 through the smoke delivery pipe 16. In order to assure a maximum scrubbing or washing action on tthe smoke, the end of the smoke delivery pipe 16 terminates within the casing 14 in a relatively thin flattened outlet,

' thus causing the releasing of smoke within the water bath same.

17 to be in a relatively wide but thin stream. This out? let of delivery pipe 16 may be substantially fiat, but preferably the upper edge of same is wavy, or longitudinally grooved, so that the smoke issues from same in small streams which facilitate forming small bubbles which aid in washing the smoke, and it is intended that the drawing be considered as diagrammatically illustrating these various constructions.

The smoke released within the casing 14 has a tendency to immediately flow upwardly through the water bath 17 taking the shortest path out of same, and thereby receiving a minimum treatment. In accordance with the present invention, the direct upward movement of the smoke through the water bath 17 is prevented by a shelf or deflec tor 20 extending entirely across the casing 14 within the water bath 17 and in the path of the smoke moving upwardly from outlet 16. The shelf or deflector 26 is preferably just below the top of the water in casing 14, and the smoke outlet 16 is spaced a short distance below said shelf. The nearer the surface of the water level in casing 14 is to the level of the smoke outlet 16, the less the back pressure which the smoke pump has to work against and the less power is required. It must be recognized, however, that there should be enough space between shelf 20 and smoke outlet 16 to allow the smoke to freely flow under said shelf to the point of discharge from in under As the upwardly moving smoke impinges against the underside of the deflector 26, its direction of flow is reversed, and the smoke flows backward until it gets out from in under deflector 20 of the casing 14 and then it flows upwardly out of the water bath 17, as indicated by the arrows. In this manner the heavier particles in the smoke, such as soot and fly ash, resist reversal and thus impinge the water bath 17 and are trapped, while the smoke is forced to take a long path through the water bath 17 so that gaseous impurities such as S S0 and CO are at least partially absorbed in the water, and a maximum purifying operation on the smoke is effected. Deflector 20 may be relatively horizontal or even slightly angled upward at its smoke release end to facilitate smoke flow, and the under face of said deflector may be relatively smooth if desired, though a cross corrugated under face will make the smoke ripple in its flow and receive a better scrubbing action, and it is intended that the showing be considered as diagrammatically illustrating same. The smoke outlet pipe 19 is at a higher elevation than the deflector 23 and receives the smoke which has passed through the water bath 17 into the upper portion of casing 14. The casing 14 has an upper water inlet pipe 21 overlying the deflector 20 and delivers water into the casing 14, in the path of smoke flowing to the smoke outlet pipe 19, in the form of a sprayed water curtain 22, which further cleanses or purifies the smoke.

The gases absorbed by the wash water of the water bath 17 are removed as the water overflows out of the casing 14. On the other hand, wfiy ash and other solids removed within the casing 14 settle down to the bottom of the casing and are removed by periodically draining the casing 14 through a drain 23' in the bottom of same and which drain is controlled by a valve 24.

In FIGURE 2, a modified form of smoke purifying system, generally referred to by the numeral 25, is shown. In this system a smoke pipe 26 extends from the furnace 3 and is provided with a venturi chamber 27. Smoke is drawn from the furnace 3 through the venturi chamber 27 by means of the introduction of fresh air into the venturi chamber at a high linear speed through a nozzle 28 mounted in the venturi chamber 27 and directed toward the smoke purifier. A pipe 29 is connected to the nozzle 28 in the venturi chamber 27 and receives air from a blower 30. The blower 30 is mounted on a base 31 and has a drive shaft 32 which is coupled to an armature shaft 33 of an electric motor 34 by a coupling 35. The electric motor 34 is also mounted on the base 31.

The venturi chamber 27 is coupled to a smoke supply pipe 26 which corresponds to the smoke supply pipe 12, FIGURE 1, and delivers the smoke, which has been diluted through the introduction of air thereinto, through supply pipe 36 into the casing 14 of the smoke purifier 25. The smoke is then cleansed or purified in the manner described with respect to the smoke purifying system of FIGURE 1. The casing 14 is'shown as being in a lowered position in FIGURE 2 as compared to the position of FIGURE 1. This is primarily due to the fact that smoke is brought in through the top of the casing 14 in FIGURE 2 whereas it is brought in through an end of the casing 14 in FIGURE 1. It is to be understood that these arrangements are merely ones of convenience and can be interchanged if desired.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that a novel smoke purifier has been developed utilizing the wash water principle through a novel control of the flow of the smoke to assure its proper flow through the wash water to obtain a maximum washing or cleansing action. However, attention is directed to the fact that variations may be made in the particular apparatus disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth above and shown in the drawing. It is also to be noted that directional terms such as upwardly, overlies, top, end, et cetera, have been used to describe the invention in the general position shown in the drawing, but that such terms are not to be considered as limiting the present invention.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the smoke purifying apparatus herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A smoke purifying attachment for treating and purifying smoke from furnaces and the like, said attachment comprising a casing including a liquid bath in the lower portion thereof, a smoke supply pipe connected to said casing and including a terminal discharge portion immersed beneath the surface of said liquid bath and directed toward one side of said casing, a smoke discharge pipe communicating with said casing above the surface of said liquid bath horizontally at the side of said casing toward which said terminal discharge portion is directed, a horizontal deflector plate secured on said casing beneath the surface of said liquid and said smoke discharge pipe, and extending over said terminal discharge portion, said plate having a free edge spaced rearwardly of said terminal discharge portion and forming a shelf thereover and defining a tortuous path beneath said liquid through which discharged smoke must travel whereby the normal direction of smoke travel from said discharge portion is reversed beneath the surface of the liquid and smoke is absorbed in the liquid and material is precipitated beneath the surface of the liquid prior to smoke discharge, said terminal discharge portion comprising a wide, flattened, substantially horizontally disposed opening for directing smoke beneath said shelf as a wide thin stream, liquid curtain spray means secured on said casing downstream of said discharge pipe and directed transversely of the horizontal path of travel of smoke from said casing into said smoke discharge pipe, and a blower communicating with said smoke supply pipe exteriorly of said casing for delivering smoke under pressure to said casing and beneath said liquid bath.

2. The attachment of claim 1 including pipe means connected to said smoke supply pipe for forcing smoke therethrough and into said casing, said smoke pipe including a venturi portion, and said blower connected with said pipe means for directing air under pressure through said ven turi portion to effect smoke movement and smoke dilution with air.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 980,257 Heslewood Jan. 3, 1911 1,096,501 Foster May 12, 1914 1,252,731 Stewart Ian. 8, 1918 1,939,949 Bertram Dec. 19, 1933 2,070,578 Bowman Feb. 16, 1937 2,721,064 Reichardt Oct. 18, 1955 2,826,397 Lofgren et al Mar. 11, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 338,596 France Mar. 31, 1904